OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effects and complications of manipulative reduction and hard paper splints in treating forearm double fracture.

METHODSFrom November 2005 to December 2010,38 patients with forearm double fracture were treated with manipulative reduction and hard paper splints immobilization, including 26 males and 12 females, aged from 18 to 66 years (averaged 28 years). The time from injury to manipulation was 20 min to 2 d with an average of 8 hours. Before treatment, the patients manifested swelling, pain, deformity,abnormal activity of injured limbs, dysfunction of elbow and wrist extension-flexion and forearm supination-pronation; X-rays showed fractures occurred in radius and ulna. Fracture healing, flexion function of elbow and wrist, supination-pronation function of forearm were used to evaluated the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 3 to 8 months,with a mean of 5.7 months. According to Anderson grade criterion of forearm fractures, 33 cases were excellent and fracture healing, which loss of elbow or wrist flexion and extension ranging <10% and forearm rotation <25%; 5 cases were good and fracture healing,which loss of elbow or wrist flexion and extension ranging <20% and forearm rotation loss <50%; there was no dissatisfactory or failure cases.

CONCLUSIONThis method makes the fixation firmly, safely and utility, prevents the sore of pressing and necrosis, and worths further clinical applications.